Before becoming a Pope he was the Metropolitan of Assiut in Egypt. He is the second Bishop/Metropolitan to become a Pope in the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The first Bishop/Metropolitan to become a Pope was John XIX[1]

Due to him accepting the Post there was a disagreement between him and Habib Elmasry, who was the secretary of the General Congregation Council (Elmagles Elmelly Ela'am) of the Coptic Orthodox Church at some stage. Mr. Elmasry was the father of the Coptic historian Iris Habib Elmasry and she documented these incedents in her book about the history of the Coptic Church.[2]

During his papacey he did not consecrate any bishops or metropolitans and this was taken as a symbol of his regret to having become a Pope despite being a Metropolitan beforehand.[3]